Ireland hosts major international Conference of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation

Drogheda, Ireland is the location for the 30th annual meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO). The main function of NASCO is to conserve, restore, enhance and rationally manage Atlantic salmon through international cooperation taking account of the best available scientific information.

The prestigious conference will take place in the Westcourt Hotel, Drogheda from June 4th to 7th and will be attended by delegates from Canada, Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), European Union (representing its 27 Member States), Norway, Russia and USA.

Welcoming the conference to Drogheda, Minister Fergus O’Dowd stated ‘This conference will continue the key work of NASCO, using the best scientific information, and international cooperation to conserve and manage Atlantic salmon populations. I wish the many delegates a friendly and intellectually stimulating stay in Drogheda where the meeting programme will no doubt provide insights and an outstanding platform for dynamic networking to ensure the continued conservation of our precious salmon stocks’.

NASCO is an international organisation established by an intergovernmental convention in 1984, and it is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Its objectives are the conservation, restoration and rational management of wild Atlantic salmon stocks, which do not recognise national boundaries. It is the only intergovernmental organisation with this mandate which it implements through international consultation, negotiation and co-operation.

Ireland is at the forefront of salmon conservation internationally. Salmon conservation, protection and management in Ireland is the responsibility of Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Irish participants in the conference will include an Irish Government delegation (Managers and Scientists) and representatives of a number of Irish based Non -Governmental Organisations including Salmon Watch Ireland.

The North-South Body the Loughs Agency which has responsibility for salmon conservation, and protection in Foyle and Carlingford Loughs will also be represented as part of the Irish delegation.